University of Maryland, College Park – UME – Director

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University of Maryland, College Park – UME – Director

The Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology seeks a visionary leader to serve as the Center’s Director. Building on the Center’s twenty-five-year legacy of leadership in Maryland’s agriculture and forestry communities through research, outreach, and collaborative partnerships, the Director has a unique opportunity to expand growth, visibility, and impact.

• Serve as the outward face of the Hughes Center and lead the Center’s team as primary contact with the Board, external stakeholders, University leadership, and the Center’s staff.
• Maintain existing relationships while seeking new partnerships and opportunities to broaden the Center’s reach and impact.
• Lead and manage multiple priorities, working independently and steering a team.
• Bring a bold vision to enhance and elevate the Center’s visibility in the state and region.
• Steward current relationships while engaging new audiences and exploring new working models through exceptional communication.
• Build understanding with state and federal policymakers about the Center’s work.
• Support and facilitate effective functioning of the Center’s board of directors.
• Engage with UMD and AGNR to leverage the relationship, including student engagement.

The Director will join the Center at an exciting time and will possess leadership to build on the Center’s past while leading boldly. The successful candidate will be an organized, detail‑oriented self‑starter capable of setting and managing multiple priorities while leading a team.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A master’s degree in agriculture, environmental science, public policy, or a closely related field.
• At least five years of experience in leading and managing an organization or team of comparable size, preferably within university systems, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience and knowledge of finances and budgets with multiple funding sources.
• Track record of successfully leading both large and small projects.
• Demonstrated success in raising and sustaining competitive and non-competitive funding from the public and non‑profit sectors.
• Collaborative leadership and ability to advocate for the organization.
• Positive relationship-building with internal and external stakeholders and leaders across sectors.
• Experience building board relations and recruiting and engaging a diverse board of directors.
• Excellent oral and written communication with all parties.
• Ability to recruit and foster staff members.
• Understanding of the operations of a non‑profit organization and a university.
• Familiarity with Maryland’s agriculture and environmental communities.

• Both external and internal candidates are encouraged to apply.
• If an external candidate is selected, initial appointment will be part-time at 0.5 FTE with potential to move to 1.0 FTE if funding is secured. Initial appointment will be as a Senior Faculty Specialist (non‑tenure accruing) and Director in AGNR; the candidate should meet criteria for Senior Faculty Specialist.
• If an internal candidate is selected, the candidate must be a current AGNR tenured faculty member at associate professor/professor or senior/principal rank, or a current AGNR professional track faculty member at senior/principal rank.
• Position requires presence at the Center’s offices at Wye Research and Education Center, Queenstown, Maryland, with flexibility per FTE and AGNR teleworking policy.
• Candidate must be eligible to work in the United States at the time of hiring. The department will not provide sponsorship for work visa requirements.

Work is performed in a normal office environment with standard office equipment for lengthy periods; the position frequently involves conveying information through oral and written communication.

N/A

UMD will not sponsor the successful candidate for work authorization in the United States now or in the future.

Required Application Materials: Resume or CV, Cover Letter, List of 3 Professional References, Unofficial Transcript(s)

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